22. ROY

Franchise / home series: Fire Emblem

Notable non-Smash games: Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade (2002)

Roy joined Smash in Melee, notably releasing internationally before his own game was localized, making him a “mystery swordsman” to many players outside Japan. Alongside Marth, he played a key role in sparking worldwide interest in the Fire Emblem series.

In Smash, Roy’s sword—the Binding Blade—features a reverse sweetspot mechanic, with the hilt dealing more damage and knockback than the tip. This encourages aggressive close-quarters play, differentiating him from the spacing-oriented Marth. His fiery effects, quick grounded options, and powerful forward smash became trademarks of his design, even though he was generally considered lower tier in Melee due to his speed and knockback scaling.

Roy’s return as DLC in Smash for 3DS/Wii U and later as a main roster fighter in Ultimate brought significant buffs, greatly increasing his speed and combo potential. In modern Smash, Roy is recognized as a high-pressure, rushdown swordsman with explosive KO power, fully realizing the potential hinted at by his original Melee incarnation.